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What to Wear to a Wedding

Weddings are some of my favorite events to attend. Everyone is in a celebratory mood, ready to dance, eat, drink and be merry. I love it! Especially if you’re attending simply as a guest and get to enjoy the festivities without any responsibilities.

I have a couple of weddings this year and since I’ve been on the hunt for wedding guest attire I thought I’d put together some tips for choosing what to wear to a wedding. It’s not that tricky if you think about it, but it’s always nice to have some guidelines to help steer you in the right direction.

Unless the future Mr. and Mrs. are throwing a bash alà P.Diddy’s White Party, don’t show up wearing a white dress, let alone a white gown. I know this seems like a no-brainer but I’ve been to a wedding where a guest wore white and it did not go unnoticed. It was obvious this person had a case of “Who Wore It Best” and wanted to steal a bit of the bride’s thunder. Don’t be that girl. This is the bride’s special day not yours.

READ THE INVITATION FOR ATTIRE INFORMATION

On the same note, most invitations will state what kind of attire is preferred. Very popular dress code wording goes something like “Semiformal” or “Dressy Casual” on invitations. This means you have the option of dressing anywhere from a formal cocktail-length dress to a dressy skirt and top. If you aren’t sure ask someone in the bridal party for advice or if you’re close to the bride and/or groom give them a call, just not the week of the wedding. They have bigger things to deal with than your outfit choices. My advice? Always err on the side of caution and be overdressed rather than underdressed.

FOLLOW THE RULE OF ONE

If you’ve never heard of the rule of one it states you should choose only one of the following when picking an outfit: open back, low cut, bodycon, high slit, etc. never all or several at the same time. Yes weddings are fun but you should always think about the couple and if they’d be fine with your attire. If you really want to take that “freakum dress” (google it) out for a spin then wear it to the bachelorette party or the wedding after party. There’s always a time and a place for them, the wedding is just not it!

YOU CAN WEAR BLACK

Black is a timeless color that is most certainly appropriate for a wedding. If the location and time of day seem suitable for your LBD then go for it! Nobody should give you the stink eye for it.

CONSIDER THE LOCATION

When choosing your outfit, make sure you think about where the ceremony and reception are taking place. Is it in a church? Maybe bring a shawl to cover any exposed skin you’ll feel uncomfortable showing. Is it on the beach? Think about packing some sunglasses for the sun or a light jacket if you think there will be a cool breeze. You want to be able to enjoy the happy couple and not have to worry about climate or location details the day of.